Blue Archive Spinoff Project Halted

Project KV, a visual novel developed by former Blue Archive creators, has been cancelled due to significant backlash over its striking resemblance to its predecessor. This article explores the reasons behind the game's abrupt cancellation.

Project KV Cancellation Following Backlash Over Blue Archive Similarities

Dynamis One Apologizes for the Controversy

Dynamis One, a studio founded by ex-Blue Archive developers at Nexon Games, announced the cancellation of its highly anticipated Project KV on September 9th via Twitter (X). The statement acknowledged the considerable negative reaction stemming from the game's substantial similarities to Blue Archive, a mobile gacha game. The studio apologized for the ensuing controversy and pledged to avoid similar issues in future projects. All Project KV related materials were subsequently removed from online platforms. The developers expressed regret to fans who had supported the project and promised to strive for higher expectations in their future endeavors.

Initial promotional videos released on August 18th and August 30th showcased the game's story, characters, and voice acting. However, the project's cancellation followed swiftly after the second teaser. While the developers likely faced disappointment, online reaction largely celebrated the decision.

Blue Archive and the "Red Archive" Controversy

The formation of Dynamis One in April 2024, led by former Blue Archive lead Park Byeong-Lim, initially raised eyebrows among the Blue Archive fanbase. The subsequent unveiling of Project KV ignited a firestorm of criticism due to its numerous similarities to Blue Archive. These similarities extended to the game's aesthetic, music, and core concept: a Japanese-style city populated by weapon-wielding female students.

The presence of a "Master" character, echoing Blue Archive's "Sensei," and the use of halo-like adornments above characters, directly mirroring a key visual element in Blue Archive, fueled the controversy.

The halos, in particular, proved highly contentious. Their significance within Blue Archive's narrative context made their inclusion in Project KV appear to many as an attempt to leverage Blue Archive's success without proper attribution. Accusations of plagiarism and the moniker "Red Archive" (a perceived derivative of Blue Archive) became prevalent online.

While Blue Archive's general producer, Kim Yong-ha, indirectly addressed the controversy by sharing a fan clarification confirming Project KV's lack of official connection to Blue Archive, the overwhelmingly negative response ultimately led to the project's cancellation.

The cancellation of Project KV, while potentially disappointing for some, is largely seen as a consequence of the perceived plagiarism. The future direction of Dynamis One and whether they will learn from this experience remains to be seen.